Giro organizers unveil balanced 2014 route with Irish start

MILAN (AFP) — Vincenzo Nibali will kick off the defense of his Giro d’Italia title in 2014 with three days of racing in Northern Ireland before a key final week in the high mountains.

Nibali (Astana) claimed his maiden pink jersey after a dramatic 2013 edition that was blighted by torrential rain, cancelled stages and a snow-hit stage to Tre Cime di Lavaredo in the Dolomites.

Next year’s edition is set for an equally dramatic end with some key mountain stages, including the 20th and penultimate day to Monte Zoncolan, labeled the “Welcome to Hell” stage, set to decide overall victory. Before then, however, Nibali and a handful of rivals including Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha), Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), Cadel Evans (BMC Racing), Ivan Basso (Cannondale), and Andy Schleck (RadioShack-Leopard) will begin the three-week race with three days of mainly flat racing in the north of Ireland.

“It’s a balanced and great looking race, but we’ll all have to race well,” said Nibali. “There are a lot of stages that suit the climbers. The big riders that were here at the presentation are the ones that will go on to fight for the 2014 win.”

In a break from tradition, the race will begin in Belfast on a Friday with a team time trial and continue with two mainly flat stages that should suit the sprinters like Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step).

After a stage 3 finish across the border in Dublin, the peloton will enjoy a rest day on May 12 before resuming the race the next day from Giovinazo to Bari on the heel of the Italian peninsula.

“I think it’s great. I know that people have been working very hard for many years to get the Giro to the two countries so I think it’s really exciting and it’s a huge achievement for the people involved and for both countries to host this fantastic cycling event,” said Irishman Nicolas Roche (Saxo-Tinkoff). “For the cycling fans in both countries, it’s going to be a unique experience.”

The race makes its way north with a slightly uphill finish on stages 5 and 6 and another flat stage, which the sprinters and non-climbers will welcome, on stage 7.

The first of five stages in the mountains come on stages 8 and 9, from Foligno to Montecopiolo and Lugo to Sestola, respectively.

After the second of three rest days, the puncheurs — riders who excel on lumpy finishes — will have a chance to shine on stage 10 from Modena to Salsomaggiore Terme.

The next day has a hilly start, but finishes on the flat.

The battle for the race’s pink jersey will move up a gear on stage 12 during a 46.4-kilometer individual time trial which is almost all uphill. From Barbaresco to Barolo, Giro owner RCS Sport has labeled it “The Wine Stage.”

After a flat finish on stage 13, the race only gets harder and harder.

Stage 14 features four climbs and an uphill finish at Oropa before the following day’s 217 kilometers feature a long flat stretch before ending with the climb to Plan di Montecampione.

After the final rest day, three climbs and another uphill finish welcome the peloton on stage 16 to Val Martello.

Another uphill finish features on stage 18 to Malga Panarotta, a day before the overall contenders tackle a difficult uphill time trial over 26.8km from Bassano to Cima Grappa.

The following day will likely see the race’s key stage, in the 167km ride over three mountain passes, including the mythical Monte Zoncolan.

“It’s not as concentrated as previous editions, but they are certainly not easy stages,” said Evans. “You go into the last week already with some stages with a lot of climbs in your legs, not necessarily in the high mountains, but they are difficult.

“At this point we have to look at Nibali (as the favorite), but experience will help guys like Ivan and myself.”

The race’s 21st and final stage, from Gemona to Trieste, brings the race to an end on a circuit to be raced eight times.